Exchanged

Chapter 4

I knew my parents were going to be hard to persuade. As the youngest, I have always been the baby of the family.

"But I'm not a child anymore. You can't keep treating me like one. I need to make my own decisions and have my own opinions," I complained after a long argument.

"Elle, when we let you choose, you choose wrong. The matter has already been decided," my mother concluded.

"But--"

"If you want to prove your maturity, allow us to handle the situation, and stop complaining." And at that statement, my mouth remained shut.

My feet began motion before my brain. As I sprinted away from the stress and the excuses, my mind was blank. I needed to reach him, the only person who understands me.

When I peered down the dark alley, I realized that I had found my destination. Mack's house. My neighborhood was not nearly as rough as his. Children were forbidden to step foot outside the house without an adult. Playgrounds were abandoned, streets were empty, drained of all joy and life. Yet, Mack ignores his environment, and tries to make the best of things.

I climbed up his apartment entrance, a fire escape, and was greeted by a stray cat known as fern. I slid my fingers under a crack on the window sill and popped it open. When I jumped through, I saw Mack sitting on the floor. The apartment was removed of all furniture.

"What happened?" I exclaimed.

Mack looked up, waking up from his day dream.

"We sold the furniture. We sold the china. We sold everything."

He advanced towards me slowly, our gaze never breaking. I shifted closer and interlocked my fingers with his. Together, we hopped out of the window, descended down the fire escape, and left the darkness of the alley behind us.

"My family's broke," Mack explained. "We're losing everything. Not only our material items, but each other. Tomorrow, it'll be my mom and I against the world. Dad won't be there to save us from poverty."

My heart sank as Mack spoke. I always knew his family struggled financially, but I never would have predicted this inescapable situation.

"I don't know if I can live like this anymore," Mack confessed.

At that, I attempted to change the subject.

"Any luck convincing your parents?" I asked. Mack was the youngest, like me.

"No, you?"

"Nope."

The moment I heard it, terrifying thoughts ran through my head. The ring of the city alarms pierced my ears. A light-hearted jingle that played before an announcement from the Noble, our almighty leader. Nevertheless, this whistle was nothing more of a death call.

"Attention citizens. we have made the executive decision in allowing the youngest of one family sacrifice its lives for both its family, and another family of its choice. This is due to the fact that children are a treasure. and they appear to be the hardest family member to lose. If you desire to be sacrificed as the youngest, please turn in your ballot with your name, your family's name, and your family of your choice. That is all. God bless, and we apologize in advance for your loss."

The 20 foot speakers along the streets then fell into an unearthly silence.

I glanced over at Mack, and our eyes met. I could read his thoughts through those dark brown eyes.

"Please don't do this, Mack. Your mother needs you. My family needs you. I need you," I begged him. "If you aren't sacrificed, I won't sacrifice myself, either."

Mack stared at me, trying to determine whether I was telling the truth.

"Alright," he agreed.

Posts holding the box and ballots for the Exchange were everywhere. Mack and I passed by one. We were skeptical of the brown leather box, knowing it would determine our future. Nevertheless, I filled out my ballot for my family, printing my father's name, John, and my family's name, Harris. I couldn't hold back the tears. When I turned in my slightly drenched ballot, I saw Mack was hesitantly filling out his.

After about five minutes, he slipped the ballot in the box. Little did I know that his read "Mack Oaks. Oaks Family. Harris Family."